Permit Requirements

Permits are required for both the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon fishery and the Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon fishery. The Glennallen Subdistrict permit is free. Starting in 2017, a $15 fee will be charged for the Chitina Subdistrict permit. Revenues from this fee will be used to help provide sanitation services and trail and road maintenance that will serve the users of the fishery.

If you are 18 years old and older, you must have in your possession a valid Alaska resident sport fishing license, an ADF&G Permanent ID (senior license), or an ADF&G Disabled Veteran’s license to participate in personal use fisheries, but not in subsistence fisheries.

The Chitina permit is for dipnetting in the mainstem of the Copper River downstream of the downstream edge of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge to 200 yards upstream of Haley Creek. The Glennallen permit is for dipnetting OR using a fish wheel in the mainstem of the Copper River upstream of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge to the confluence of the Slana River.

Only one permit per household!

A household MAY NOT be issued both a Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use salmon fishing permit and a Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence salmon fishing permit (5 AAC 77.591(a)). A household may choose EITHER a Chitina Subdistrict permit (below the bridge) OR a Glennallen Subdistrict permit (above the bridge), not both. All household members must be listed on the permit, and must possess an AK resident sport fishing license if participating in the Chitina Personal Use fishery.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon Permits

You can obtain a Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon permit at many private vendors who sell Alaska fishing/hunting licenses, at your local ADF&G, Sport Fish Division office, or online through the ADF&G Store.

Permits must be filled in each time you fish

You must have your permit (and fishing license if personal use fishing) in your possession while fishing or transporting fish.

You must record the date, location, and harvest by species each time you fish. You must fill in this information even if you did not catch any fish - write "0" in the space provided for harvest.

You must record all salmon on your permit and remove both tips of the tail fin from each salmon taken immediately upon landing a fish.

Immediately is defined as before concealing the salmon from plain view, such as put in a cooler, or transporting the salmon from the fishing site.

Fishing site means the location where the fish is removed from the water and becomes part of the permit holder’s bag limit. Failure to record the salmon on the permit is a violation, and may be subject to fines and loss of future personal use fishing privileges.

Reporting Requirements

Harvest information recorded on the permit is used to monitor the fisheries and to ensure conservation and sustained yield of fishery resources.

Participation and harvest must be reported to ADF&G by the end of the fishing season, even if you did not use the permit, and even if you did use the permit but did not catch anything.

Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Permit Reporting

For the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use permit, the reporting deadline is October 15th, and can be reported online. Failure to report your harvest is a violation of 5 AAC 77.015(c) and may be subject to a $200 fine and loss of your personal use fishing privileges.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Permit Reporting

For the Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence permit, the reporting deadline is October 30th. Failure to report your harvest may result in being ineligible to receive a subsistence permit for the Copper River the following calendar year.

Be sure to review the FAQ page and the appropriate regulations for more information, fishing requirements, and limits.

Chitina Personal Use Fishery Regulations

What area is open to fishing?

The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon fishery is restricted to all waters of the mainstem Copper River from the downstream edge of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge downstream to an east-west line crossing the Copper River about 200 yards upstream of Haley Creek marked by ADF&G regulatory markers. All tributaries to the Copper River, including the Chitina River, are closed to personal use fishing.

When may fish be taken?

The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon fishery is open from June 7 through September 30 only during periods established by emergency order based on salmon escapement estimates from the Miles Lake sonar. ALWAYS check the recorded phone numbers, schedule website, or ADF&G office before going to fish.

What gear may be used?

A dip net is the only legal gear that may be used in the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Salmon fishery. In 5 AAC 39.105 of the Alaska Administrative Code, a dip net is defined as:

a bag-shaped net supported on all sides by a rigid frame;

the maximum straight-line distance between any two points on the net frame, as measured between any two points on the net frame, as measured through the net opening, may not exceed five feet;

the depth of the bag must be at least one-half of the greatest straight-line distance, as measured through the net opening;

no portion of the bag may be constructed of webbing that exceeds a stretched measurement of 4.5 inches;

the frame must be attached to a single rigid handle and be operated by hand.

What are the bag and possession limits?

Limits are per household. A head of household is allowed 25 salmon, and for each additional household member the household is allowed 10 more salmon. The annual limit for Chinook (king) salmon is 1 per household, which is part of the total household salmon limit. For example, if your household size is two, then you are allowed to harvest 35 salmon, one of which may be a king salmon. Please remember to check the recorded phone numbers for any inseason changes. Supplemental harvest periods are no longer scheduled.

When are harvest reports due?

For the Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use permit, the reporting deadline is October 15th, and can be reported online.

Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Fishery Regulations

What area is open to fishing?

The Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon fishery is restricted to all waters of the mainstem Copper River from the mouth of the Slana River downstream to the downstream edge of the Chitina-McCarthy Bridge. All tributaries to the Copper River, including the Chitina River, are closed to subsistence fishing.

What are the bag and possession limits?

The total annual limits for this fishery are 30 salmon for a household of one and 60 salmon for a household of two or more, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook (king) salmon if taken by dip net. For a household of more than two, 10 salmon for each additional person may be added to the annual limit. The number of Chinook (king) salmon (5) taken by dip net does not increase.

Upon request, permits for additional salmon will be issued with the following limits:

No more than a total of 200 salmon for a permit issued to a household with one person, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook (king) salmon if taken by dip net;

No more than a total of 500 salmon for a permit issued to a household of two or more persons, of which no more than 5 may be Chinook (king) salmon if taken by dip net.

When may fish be taken?

The Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon fishery is open June 1 through September 30. However, any fishery can be closed by emergency order to protect spawning escapement. ALWAYS check with your local ADF&G office before going to fish.

How may fish be taken?

Salmon may be taken in the Glennallen Subdistrict by fish wheel OR dip net, but not both. Only one gear type may be specified on a permit. If you will be using a fish wheel that is not your own, the owner of the fish wheel must register the fish wheel and provide your name to the Glennallen ADF&G office before a permit for the fish wheel can be issued for your use. When you visit any of the above ADF&G offices to get your permit, please have with you the name of the fish wheel owner and the registered fish wheel number.

What is a fish wheel?

A fish wheel is a fixed, rotating device for catching fish, which is driven by river current or other means of power. A fish wheel in the Glennallen Subdistrict:

may not have more than 2 baskets;

may not be set or operated within 75 feet of another fish wheel;

must be removed from the water at the end of the permit period; and,

may not be rented, leased, or otherwise used for personal gain.

Fish wheel registration and operation

Fish wheel owners must register their fish wheels at either the Glennallen or Tok ADF&G offices. ADF&G will issue a numbered plaque for the fish wheel and that number and a separate plaque with the owner’s name and address or their permanent ID number (which must be a valid Alaska Driver’s License number or Alaska State Identification number) must be permanently affixed and plainly visible on the fish wheel when the fish wheel is in the water (see sign material and lettering size specifics below).

The fish wheel owner must provide a list of those persons authorized to use the fish wheel at the time of registration. The owner may contact the Glennallen ADF&G office at any time during the season to add additional users to the list. Permits will not be issued to non-authorized (not on the list) individuals for fish wheel use.

A Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence Salmon fishery permit holder (who is not the fish wheel owner) must also attach a wood, metal, or plastic plate at least 12 inches high by 12 inches wide with their name and address in letters and numerals at least one inch high to the fish wheel where it is plainly visible when operating the fish wheel. A fish wheel permit holder may operate only one fish wheel at a time and must check the fish wheel at least once every 10 hours and remove all fish from the fish wheel.

The owner of the fish wheel is responsible for the fish wheel when the fish wheel is in the water. Fish wheels must be removed from the water at the end of the fishing period specified on the permit (currently October 1).

When are harvest reports due?

For the Glennallen Subdistrict Subsistence permit, the reporting deadline is October 30th.